AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Bills DE Jerry Hughes announced on Twitter that he intends to return to play another season in Buffalo in 2020. 
• Hughes also revealed that he played most of the 2019 season with torn ligaments in his wrist. 
• Per the Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, Bills HC Sean McDermott said the focus this offseason will be on keeping as much of the team together as possible in 2020: “We’ve got to start in house. We have to make sure we keep as much of this team intact as possible.”
• McDermott noted he doesn’t anticipate making any coaching staff changes this offseason. (Marcel Louis-Jacques)
• Bills GM Brandon Beane praised the play of OL Cody Ford in his rookie season and said Buffalo isn’t going to decide if Ford will play tackle or guard until later: “I’m not going to stamp him in at tackle or guard. We’ll see how it plays out in the offseason.” (Buscaglia)
• Beane echoed McDermott’s comments that the Bills would take a measured approach to this offseason: “I don’t think you’re going to see us go crazy. We’re going to continue to build it. You have to be patient, and you have to do it the right way.” (Buscaglia)
• Maintaining cap flexibility for as long as possible is a priority for the Bills, though Beane pointed out they wouldn’t hesitate to give QB Josh Allen a mega-deal if they get to that point. (Louis-Jacques)
• Beane mentioned they would likely give DT Jordan Phillips a chance to test the open market, though he didn’t rule out bringing him back. (Louis-Jacques)

Dolphins

• According to Armando Salguero, the Dolphins officially hired Struthers High School (Ohio) HC Curt Kuntz to be their new secondary coach. 

Jets

Jets S Jamal Adams will likely still come up in trade rumors given that once the seal is broken, like it was at this past year’s trade deadline, it’s hard to undo. However, Jets GM Joe Douglas says for now New York is happy to have Adams as a part of the team. 

“We’re just looking forward and just excited that he’s part of the team. . . . All you have to do is watch on Sundays and see the difference that he makes not only on our defense but on our team,” Douglas said during an appearance on The Michael Kay Show.

The future of Jets RB Le’Veon Bell has also been the subject of speculation in 2020. Bell signed a mega-deal with New York in 2019 but was a mega-flop in terms of on-field production. Some have questioned if Douglas would try to unload Bell in a trade given he’s a running back with a big cap hit, but Douglas said he values Bell’s presence on the Jets. 

“We value Le’Veon,” Douglas said. “We value the competitor. We value the teammate. We’re excited [for him] being in our program another year, going through our offseason again.”

• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes writes that while the Jets need wide receiver help, there’s a good chance they won’t match the $13-$15 million a year WR Robby Anderson is seeking on the open market. 
• Unless Cowboys WR Amari Cooper hits the open market, which is possible, that would leave the draft for the Jets to address the position.
• Given their needs at offensive line, Hughes writes New York is more likely to target a receiver in the second round like LSU’s Justin Jefferson, TCU’s Jalen Reagor or Colorado’s Laviska Shenault.

Patriots

• According to the Athletic’s Jeff Howe, Patriots QB Tom Brady dealt with “an array” of injuries, including to his foot and elbow, that affected his accuracy down the stretch in 2019.